Aaron Gordon’s right-foot bone bruise prevented him from playing Thursday night against the Philadelphia 76ers and could force him to withdraw from the All-Star dunk contest on Feb. 18 if the injury doesn’t heal as quickly as Gordon and team officials hope it will heal.

Asked if he’s concerned that the bone bruise will keep him out of the dunk contest, Gordon answered, “Maybe. I’m not sure. It’s day-to-day. If I can get back and play one of these games before the All-Star break, I’ll probably go ahead and just do the dunk contest, too.”

Gordon had not missed a game this season until Thursday’s matchup against the 76ers.

On Tuesday, he sat out the second half of a loss to the Houston Rockets because of pain on the underside of his right foot — not his left foot, which required surgery during his rookie season. On Wednesday, an MRI revealed he has a bone bruise.

“A next-man-up mentality,” Vogel said. “Whoever gets his minutes, they’ve got to come in and draw those assignments and do it by committee.”

Mario Hezonja started at small forward in Gordon’s place against the Sixers.

Jeff Green returned to the team after he missed Tuesday’s game to attend the birth of his first child.

Gordon gained national fame for his dazzling performance in last year’s dunk contest. He finished as the controversial runner-up to defending champion Zach LaVine.

CAPTION

In this video, Aaron Gordon discusses his new 4-year, $76 million contract with the Orlando Magic.

In this video, Aaron Gordon discusses his new 4-year, $76 million contract with the Orlando Magic.

CAPTION

In this video, Aaron Gordon discusses his new 4-year, $76 million contract with the Orlando Magic.

In this video, Aaron Gordon discusses his new 4-year, $76 million contract with the Orlando Magic.

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In this video, Jonathan Isaac discusses the Orlando Magic's 86-56 summer league win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in Las Vegas.

In this video, Jonathan Isaac discusses the Orlando Magic's 86-56 summer league win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in Las Vegas.

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In this video, Mo Bamba discusses the Orlando Magic's 86-56 summer league win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in Las Vegas.

In this video, Mo Bamba discusses the Orlando Magic's 86-56 summer league win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in Las Vegas.

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In this video, Pat Delany discusses the Orlando Magic's 86-56 summer league win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in Las Vegas.

In this video, Pat Delany discusses the Orlando Magic's 86-56 summer league win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in Las Vegas.

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In this video, Steve Clifford explains how Jerian Grant, Timofey Mozgov will impact his team

This year, Gordon is scheduled to compete against the Phoenix Suns’ Derrick Jones Jr., the Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan and the Indiana Pacers’ Glenn Robinson III at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

Gordon is unable to practice for the contest because of his injury.

Vogel was asked whether he’s spoken with Gordon about whether Gordon will compete at All-Star Weekend.

“Obviously, we’ll be smart,” Vogel said. “If it’s something where that would be a negative to our ability to win games, then he wouldn’t do it. But I don’t think that’s going to be the case. We don’t feel it’s that serious of an injury. I don’t think it’s going to impact him [for the contest].”

Gordon said it would be difficult to sit on the sidelines as his teammates faced the Sixers.

“I don’t like to miss games,” Gordon said. “I never like to miss games. Never in my life have I [liked that]. From a young boy to right now, I just don’t like sitting on the side and seeing my team out there battling without me. However, we have very talented individuals on this team, so I have full confidence in the players — my teammates that are going to step up and make big plays and get a win.”

Layups

• Hezonja’s start was his first start of the season. He started nine games last season as a rookie.

• The Magic made eight of their first 11 shots.

• Evan Fournier scored 13 of the Magic’s first 21 points.

jrobbins@orlandosentinel.com. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog and follow him on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins.